The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[RG30]

Now confirmed.

[morganb]

Cat1 reinstated apparently

Official announcement -

https://twitter.com/RFCAcademy/status/1 ... 3Yu4A&s=19

[Orion1871]

Wow that's erm. You know that thing? It's not bad news it's... what's the word that's opposite to bad?

[Sutekh]

Nothing about it on the OS of course.....

[Hound]

I think it points to some good work being done behind the scenes before it’s all fallen to shit recently

Guessing all the work was done long before recent developments

It does seem like we were on a reasonable path basically until the Wilder appointment didn’t happen (not saying that was the trigger but something obvs happened around that time)

[Hound]

Nothing about it on the OS of course.....

The official Twitter did retweet it

[RG30]

There was a good interview recently on BBC Radio Derby with David Clowes, Derby's owner. They've got Cat 1 status and he spoke of the costs involved (£5million+) to run a Cat 1 academy but you do get back a lot in Premier League grants.

[Royals and Racers]

Very interesting article from Middlesboro FC regarding the PL 2 in 2023/4 season. Instead of 2 divisions all 25 clubs will play in one big league playing 20 matches plus play-offs for the top 16.
Last season there were 14 + 11 teams.
Fuller details of this concept which is based on the Champions league 24/25 model is to be found on this article https://trainingground.guru/articles/pr ... ext-season

Now worth bringing to the top !!!

[WestYorksRoyal]

Excellent news for once. Bizarre comms again; a single tweet and only then after it was leaked. It's like the club is waiting to deliver a bonanza of good news at once; HMRC paid, Selles confirmed, embargo lifted, a couple of signings. But where you get good news, just announce it to help get fans onside. This stubborn, determined silence is nuts.

[Hound]

Excellent news for once. Bizarre comms again; a single tweet and only then after it was leaked. It's like the club is waiting to deliver a bonanza of good news at once; HMRC paid, Selles confirmed, embargo lifted, a couple of signings. But where you get good news, just announce it to help get fans onside. This stubborn, determined silence is nuts.

Ha that’s an optimist way of looking at it

[morganb]

Nothing about it on the OS of course.....

Now there, complete with quotes from Bowen and Gilkes:

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/j ... ne-status/

[blythspartan]

I’m hoping that this also means we have funds to pay the tax bill, appoint a manager and recruit some new players. Otherwise, it’s pretty pointless if the club is about to fold.

[Hound]

Nothing about it on the OS of course.....

Now there, complete with quotes from Bowen and Gilkes:

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/j ... ne-status/

Bowen speaks! He is still there then

[Snowflake Royal]

I’m hoping that this also means we have funds to pay the tax bill, appoint a manager and recruit some new players. Otherwise, it’s pretty pointless if the club is about to fold.

This is largely work and assessments from months ago, minimum, so I wouldn’t hold out too strongly for it being a sign things are starting to resolve.

[Stranded]

I’m hoping that this also means we have funds to pay the tax bill, appoint a manager and recruit some new players. Otherwise, it’s pretty pointless if the club is about to fold.

This is largely work and assessments from months ago, minimum, so I wouldn’t hold out too strongly for it being a sign things are starting to resolve.

You are correct in that it will have been based on work done long ago but the optimists view (shock horror) is that if the club were on life support and needing to save every penny, then they could have and probably would have removed their application at any point - the costs associated with running a Cat 1 are far greater than a Cat 2 and any additional benefit would only be felt in the years to come and not now when money is tight.

[Snowflake Royal]

I’m hoping that this also means we have funds to pay the tax bill, appoint a manager and recruit some new players. Otherwise, it’s pretty pointless if the club is about to fold.

This is largely work and assessments from months ago, minimum, so I wouldn’t hold out too strongly for it being a sign things are starting to resolve.

You are correct in that it will have been based on work done long ago but the optimists view (shock horror) is that if the club were on life support and needing to save every penny, then they could have and probably would have removed their application at any point - the costs associated with running a Cat 1 are far greater than a Cat 2 and any additional benefit would only be felt in the years to come and not now when money is tight.

The realist view is that when you're desperate for good news to placate people you let it go through in the full knowledge you can get away with half arsing it on the cheap until the next assessment when you're downgraded again.

You then get the good news story and prestige for a year or so off your sunk cost, whilst cutting back.

How many times in the last 5 years has your optimist view been proven accurate in the medium term stranded? At some point you are going to need to open your eyes.

Fool you once, shame on the club. Fool you 7 times, shame on you.

[Hound]

A little harsh Ian. They still need to fund it for this season so there must be some money available

Tbh was starting to think the whole thing would have been forgotten about and we’d just carry on cat2 the way things currently are. They seem to be not bothered by no signings, no manager etc so thought this would be well down tbe priority list. It’s definitely something that Bowen has commented as well.

I’m delighted by the news but obvs there are far wider issues atm

[SCIAG]

How many times in the last 5 years has your optimist view been proven accurate in the medium term stranded? At some point you are going to need to open your eyes.

Fool you once, shame on the club. Fool you 7 times, shame on you.

Who cares?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t follow Reading so I can make accurate predictions about its medium-term future. I am not an investor with something to lose financially from being over-optimistic.

Ultimately the purpose of following a football club is to be happy. If being optimistic makes someone happy then just leave them be rather than telling them they’re a fool.

For some people “expect the worst” means you can never be disappointed. For others, that doesn’t work, and anticipating positive things is what gives the motivation to continue.

[Stranded]

This is largely work and assessments from months ago, minimum, so I wouldn’t hold out too strongly for it being a sign things are starting to resolve.

You are correct in that it will have been based on work done long ago but the optimists view (shock horror) is that if the club were on life support and needing to save every penny, then they could have and probably would have removed their application at any point - the costs associated with running a Cat 1 are far greater than a Cat 2 and any additional benefit would only be felt in the years to come and not now when money is tight.

The realist view is that when you're desperate for good news to placate people you let it go through in the full knowledge you can get away with half arsing it on the cheap until the next assessment when you're downgraded again.

You then get the good news story and prestige for a year or so off your sunk cost, whilst cutting back.

How many times in the last 5 years has your optimist view been proven accurate in the medium term stranded? At some point you are going to need to open your eyes.

Fool you once, shame on the club. Fool you 7 times, shame on you.

Whilst what I just typed felt good for a moment - am removing it.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

A little harsh Ian. They still need to fund it for this season so there must be some money available

Tbh was starting to think the whole thing would have been forgotten about and we’d just carry on cat2 the way things currently are. They seem to be not bothered by no signings, no manager etc so thought this would be well down tbe priority list. It’s definitely something that Bowen has commented as well.

I’m delighted by the news but obvs there are far wider issues atm

In fairness, he probably has a point because we will have submitted for the audit long before now. Whether we believe it fully or not, the club also put the initial downgrading down to the pandemic as well as the transition from Hogwood to Bearwood.

No doubt there will be more costs associated with C1 though, but obviously comes with it's benefits as well. Overall, a good step forward for the club no matter what the agenda.